A feast fit for a mosquito-A hike to Frazer Bay
Captain made some bacon this morning and we made some Bloody Mary’s to go with it. We listened to the Cruiser’s Net show as best as we could with our VHF. Overjoyed to hear Roy’s voice back on the air. Later there would be pictures of everyone who showed up to support his return. He was wearing our crew shirt again and we are deeply touched. Our relaxing morning turned to noon before we knew it.
I was bound and determined to take a hike today. Perhaps a little early as this evening marks one week since I hurt myself. The hike, we were told, was pretty easy and short with the exception of the mosquitos. We loaded up water bottles and the drone to take some footage when we got there and totally forgot to put on repellant or longer sleeves. I put on my Frankin-brace as it is much more supportive than the store-bought brace. Lined with a t-shirt for more comfort. I packed two hiking sticks.
The hike started innocent enough. It is technically a snowmobile trail for the winter. We hiked along a small valley between the white quartzite walls that separate Frazer Bay and Killarney Bay. There we advertisements along the trail for the Sportsman’s Inn in Killarney that I found humorous in the middle of the wilderness. There was one really iffy crossing that acted like a cattle guard for me. I had to be helped with my hiking poles and stability issues as even the wood planks weren’t all stable themselves. I had run a distance marker on our charts and, as a bird flies, it was .7 miles. As we marched along the wooded trail it transformed into grassy march and the mosquitos came out in full force. Cory and Kona ran ahead as fast as they could leaving Captain and I to trudge through as fast as my brace would let me. I’m having no issue putting weight on the knee, but any twist in the wrong direction is still painful. The brace and hiking sticks were doing a great job, but it was making me slower. I still went a little faster than I should have as I fought off mosquitos. Captain and I came up with a song to the tune of the Cranberries “Zombie.” “They’re in my eeeeear, in my eeeear-er, Mosquito, Mosquito oh oh oh.”
About 1.3 miles later (not a straight line) we arrived at the mouth of Frazer Bay. We were told it had a really big beach and I was right to assume what everyone meant. It meant a large North Channel Beach. Small by the west coast of Michigan standards but a great beach for Kona none the less. We got see the anchorage over on this side and decided it would be a good place to come. It is nice to see the anchorages beforehand or have others recommend them as we are always nervous if we will have a place to take Kona. We enjoyed our time in the breeze and away from the mosquitos for a bit. Kona played stick, Captain flew his drone. We marched back the way we came knowing we had to go through the thick of it again. Cory made good time and waited for us back at the dinghy. Our friends on other boats saw Cory waiting for awhile and feared they would see me being carried out of the hike by Captain, knowing my knee wasn’t fully healed.
We were back on board around 2:30. We read our books and I iced my knee to reward it for its hard work. Cory made us a really fancy cheese and pickle plate to fill our hunger since we failed to take snacks on the hike. We took a short nap and then it was already 5:30pm! None of us were hungry so we set down on deck to read the evening away. A dinghy came by with a cat on board! They had briefly met us at the Benjamins when they were re-setting their anchor. I am failing to remember their names, but the cat is Oliver! Oliver is a kitten and even jumped on board to say hi to Kona for a few moments. Cory was still napping and upset to hear that we let them sleep through a cat on board. We may need to go visit them tomorrow.
Around 7pm friends from the sailboat next to us, Sirius, came over for happy hour. We had left an open invitation for them to do so. Roberta and Paul brought over hot samosas from a bakery down in Tobermory. They were delicious. I didn’t eat my full one because I wasn’t really hungry yet. Cory had no issue finishing it up for me. In fact, we thought Cory was still napping (or listening to music) when then came aboard. When they heard “samosas” they popped their head out of the companionway like a teenager that hasn’t eaten in weeks.
We had a great time hanging out and they departed after my 8:45 alarm for Last Post came up on my phone. I played Last Post to a still anchorage full of boats. This anchorage is very well protected so glass water is common especially in the evening into the early morning. The still waters and towering quartzite cliffs still give me chills in both their beauty and how they amplify sound. Be it my trumpet, a dog’s bark or the loons calls.
It was after 10pm when we ready for dinner. Our plans for fajitas were gone out the window as no one really wants to cook at that hour. We made spicy ramens instead, although Captain still wanted to enjoy some margarita with them.
Dishes done and my knee iced one more we headed to bed again around midnight. As many bites I am sure I got I don’t seem to be itching from any. Cory has the welts and is itchy, but something in my biology changed after having kids and I don’t seem to react to the bites any more. Captain seems to have swimmers itch (??!!) on his hands to add to his myriad of injury’s. My knee has stiffened up a little. My frustration with my rest is getting to me. I sorely want to go hiking and be able but I may need to rest tomorrow. I really want to do the harder hike and I’ve convinced myself that if the other hike isn’t mosquito infested, I can go slow and make it. Maybe I just need to chill. Will see how the rest overnight treats me and go from there.
